Ice Prince: Rewrite The Star

Ashley had been awake ever since Chleo shouted earlier. She didn't know what had caused the couple to fight, but she knew Chleo was in a terrible mood right now.

Chleo didn't talk to Ashley nor glance at her at all. On the other hand, the handsome man who claimed to have saved them from a car accident just stood outside with no intention of making up with Chleo.

Ashley was perplexed as to how this handsome man had suddenly appeared in this middle of nowhere. She also wondered what that man's relationship with Chleo was. But the confusion was nothing compared to another mysterious fact.

Ashley was sure that Chleo's body was covered in severe injuries. She saw it herself that Chleo's neck and arms were torn to the flesh. But why is the girl's body so smooth as if she didn't have an accident?

Or was a car crash rolling over on a sandy hill plain just a dream?

Ah, never mind. The important thing is that Chleo is fine. That's all that matters.

"Now, what should we do?" ignoring Chleo, who was still pouting like a child, Ashley asked the handsome man who had now entered the hut.

"We have no other choice but to wait."

"What are we waiting for?"

"Don't worry. This place is quite safe and far from people who intend to eat you."

Chleo and Ashley gasped at Maximillian's last sentence. What does 'intend to eat you' mean?

"W… wait. What did you mean?"

"The black people just now are a group of human cannibals. They are looking for a white man lost in the desert. Then give hormone drugs to their prey's food to fatten them. After that… you don't want to know what's next."

Ashley and Chleo shuddered at Maximillian's explanation then subconsciously grabbed their arms together. They felt that their arms were a bit chubby and felt that their knees seemed to go limp at the realization of this cruel reality.

Chleo glanced at Maximillian, wondering why he was only telling her now?

Maximillian didn't want to tell the girls so they wouldn't be afraid. But he had to reveal it so that Chleo could understand why he didn't want to leave Ashley alone here.

It wasn't like he was defending or protecting the girl, but he didn't want to let a human who had nothing to do with Vectis get involved and die in vain in this place. Moreover, Bai Yu saw for himself how Ashley was crying and screaming to wake up Chleo.

No matter what the girl did in the past, her eyes were real, and she genuinely worried about Chleo.

"Uhm… how long are we going to be here?"

Max couldn't answer and only glanced at Chleo, who looked away as soon as their eyes met. Maximillian let out a resigned sigh then decided to walk out because he didn't want to worsen Chleo's mood.

As soon as Max came out of the hut, Ashley walked over and sat opposite Chleo.

"Did you two fight?"

"…"

"I don't know who he is, but seeing his affectionate gaze towards you when we walked into this place, I think he is your boyfriend."

"…"

"You guys look so good together."

"…"

"Hey, how long are you going to ignore me?"

Suddenly Chleo turned and glanced at her with a glare that she had never shown to anyone. Her gaze that suddenly changed drastically like that made Ashley both shocked and nostalgic. Where had she ever felt this kind of feeling?

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Chleo still didn't answer her and just stared at her without blinking.

It wasn't long before she heard a cry in her head.

'Chleo, wake up. You can't die now. You can't leave me here alone. Wake up! Chleoo, wake up!!'

Why did she hear Ashley's voice? No. She did hear it, but wasn't it just a dream? The girl couldn't possibly be worried about her.

Chleo remembered Max telling her that Ashley cried when she thought Chleo was dead. Could it be that the crying sound she heard wasn't a dream?

Chleo rubbed her forehead feeling dizzy thinking about all this. She didn't understand why she had to go through all this. Why should other creatures target her?

Why should she fall in love and create a romantic bond with one of the rulers?

"Chleo, what's wrong? Is your head dizzy? Between the two of us, it seems that you are more stressed than me. You'd better rest."

"..."

Chleo looked straight into the eyes of the girl in front of her, but not with such sharpness. She was just curious and confused. Is Ashley really worried about her?

"You… worried about me?"

"..."

Answer no. Chleo and Ashley thought together. Chleo guessed Ashley would answer 'no' like before, while Ashley also hoped to refute it because she was a proud spoiled girl.

But in the end, Ashley couldn't say no because, in fact, she was incredibly panicked when she watched Chleo's car slide downhill fast. But because of her own pride, she couldn't confirm Chleo's inquiry either. As a result, Ashley could only close her mouth without giving an answer.

"You're crying." guessed Chleo again. "I heard it."

Ashley scratched her neck awkwardly then answered while glancing the other way. "I didn't. My eyes were teary because I got sand in my eyes. Don't take it wrong."

Lie. Ashley was lying. Chleo was sure of it.

If Ashley told a lie, she would scratch her neck while glancing away to avoid eye contact with the person she was talking to. But how did she know this? Did she see it somewhere?

"Ashley, you… have absolutely nothing to do with those people?" For some reason, Chleo was nervously waiting for the answer.

"Those people? Which people are you referring to?"

"That black cannibal people."

Ashley's mouth gaped open in disbelief that Chleo still suspected her.

"I will say it one last time. I don't like you. I did hire someone to kidnap you, but I regret it. Since that night, I have never bothered you again. If you still think I'm the reason we're stranded here, think whatever you want, then."

Ashley got up and walked out with wide strides and a burning heart. She didn't understand why she was worried about a suspicious woman like Chleo.

Ashley looked at the hut with a scornful, irritated look, then turned again and walked only to find a handsome man standing leaning under a tree.

"I don't understand how you can put up with her," Ashley commented nonchalantly to Max.

Max didn't answer and just looked at the boundless desert filled with sand with a sad look.